GLOBAL RELEASE—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles left an incredible mark on Seth Rogen during his formative years. “The animated series debuted in 1987 when I was five. The initial movie hit theaters in 1990 when I was eight,” he recounts. “It was tailor-made for someone of my age, and I adored it. Their humor and pop culture references resonated with me. I even began taking karate, likely influenced by the Turtles. I was genuinely captivated.”
When Brian Robbins, President and CEO of Paramount and Nickelodeon, reached out to Rogen to discuss a new Turtles movie, Rogen was already brimming with ideas. “It’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” he reflects. “Among those words, ‘teenage’ was the aspect that remained relatively unexplored and held the most intrigue for me.” This marked the genesis of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Rogen envisioned a Turtles film infused with authentic teenage energy – defying conventions, rewriting the script, and asserting its independence at every turn.
In the pursuit of crafting a Turtles film imbued with their desired wit and vivacity, Seth Rogen, along with his producing partner Evan Goldberg and Mutant Mayhem producer James Weaver, sought a director who could weave a tale brimming with heart and humor while boldly flouting conventions. Guided by the endorsement of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, they found their match in Jeff Rowe, co-writer and co-director of The Mitchells Vs. The Machines.
For Rowe, the prospect of helming a new iteration of the Turtles was a dream come true. “That sounds like a dream project. I would kill to do that,” he recalls, driven by his lifelong adoration of the Turtles.
Collaboratively, Rowe and his team established the narrative’s direction, emphasizing the teenage aspect of the characters before their mutant identity. Yet, Rowe’s creativity soared higher, envisioning a concept that pushed boundaries. Goldberg chuckles as he recollects their reaction, “We said, ‘Maybe… I don’t know, man. It sounds a little crazy.’”
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Indeed, it was a touch audacious at first. Rowe’s aspiration was to construct a film that mirrored the same exuberance, messiness, and unpredictability as its heroes. “We just wanted it to look like teenage drawings,” Rowe explains, reminiscent of the spontaneous sketches one might create in high school – characterized by quirky shapes and imperfect perspectives, but brimming with heartfelt sincerity.
Kevin Eastman, the co-creator of the Turtles and a witness to their numerous transformations over the years, couldn’t be more delighted with the outcome of Mutant Mayhem. “It’s big and loud and proud,” he exclaims. “These guys nailed it.”
Mark your calendars as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem arrives in Philippine cinemas on August 23. Get ready for some cowabunga action!